A GUIDEBOOK FOR BELIEVERS

1 JOHN 5:13-21


      In closing, John summarized the major teachings of this letter. The teachings of 1st John to the church of that day apply to the church today.


  I. 1st John teaches believers to be confident in salvation (5:13-15; know–1 Jn. 2:3-29, 3:14-24, 4:7-13, 5:13)


      A. Confidence from Scripture (13a; write–1 Jn. 1:4, 2:1-26, 5:13)


      B. Confidence through faith (13b)


Jn. 1:12 [HCSB]. But to all who did receive Him, He gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in His name.


Acts 16:31 [CEV]. They replied, "Have faith in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved! This is also true for everyone who lives in your home."


      C. Confidence in Jesus (14-15; confidence–1 Jn. 2:28, 3:21, 4:17, 5:14)


Mt. 7:7. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:


          1. Ask in His will (Mt. 6:10)


Lk. 22:42 [ESV]. "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done."


      W. T. Conner wrote, “It is not bringing a reluctant God into harmony with man’s will; it is rather bringing man into harmony with God’s will, so that God can do his highest will concerning man.”


          2. Ask in His name


Jn. 14:13 [HCSB]. Whatever you ask in My name, I will do it so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.


Jn. 16:24 [MSG]. Ask in my name, according to my will, and he'll most certainly give it to you. Your joy will be a river overflowing its banks!


 II. 1st John teaches believers to cease from sins (5:16-17)


      A. Restoration through prayer (16; Gal. 6:1)


Jas. 5:20 [NIV]. Remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.


          1. Pardonable sin


Mt. 18:15 [GW]. If a believer does something wrong, go, confront him when the two of you are alone. If he listens to you, you have won back that believer.


Lk. 17:3 [GNB]. So watch what you do! "If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him.


          2. Unpardonable sin (Acts 5:5; 1 Cor. 11:30)


Mt. 12:32 [NIV]. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.


Jer. 7:16 [ESV]. As for you, do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer for them, and do not intercede with me, for I will not hear you.


      B. Righteous in practice (17; unrighteousness– 1 Jn. 1:9)


1 Jn. 2:29 [NIV]. If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him.


III. 1st John teaches believers to check their second birth (5:18-21; birth–Jn. 1:13, 3:3-5-6-7-8; 1 Jn. 2:29, 3:9, 4:7, 5:1-4-18)


      A. Test of purity (Rom. 6:1)


1 Jn. 3:9 [NIV]. No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.


          1. Keeps (1 Tim. 5:22)


Jude 21 [ESV]. Keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.


          2. Kept (Jn. 17:15; 2 Pet. 1:5)


Jn. 17:15 [ESV]. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.


      B. Test of victory (“touch”–lay hold of)


          1. Devil (Mt. 6:13, 13:19; Eph. 6:16; 1 Jn. 5:18)


          2. World (Eph. 2:2, 6:12)


Rom. 12:2 [CEV]. Don't be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him.


1 Jn. 2:15 [MSG]. Don't love the world's ways. Don't love the world's goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father.


      C. Test of ability (understanding– Eph. 1:18)


1 Jn. 2:20 [HCSB]. But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.


      D. Test of theology (1 Jn. 4:6)


          1. Deity (1 Jn. 2:22)


          2. Eternity (1 Jn. 2:25)


1 Jn. 5:11 [NIV]. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.


      E. Test of reality (little children–1 Jn. 2:1-12-28, 3:7-18, 4:4, 5:21; idols–2 Cor. 6:16)


      Westcott said, “An idol is anything which occupies the place due to God.”


1 Cor. 10:6-7 [CEV]. What happened to them is a warning to keep us from wanting to do the same evil things. They worshiped idols, just as the Scriptures say, "The people sat down to eat and drink. Then they got up to dance around." So don't worship idols.